A park in Hucknall with a history of antisocial behaviour and some reports of incidents involving knives and flashing has seen safety measures stepped up in a bid to reduce crime. After years of campaigning from residents and councillors Titchfield Park, Hucknall, has had two CCTV cameras installed which will overlook its car park, cafe and skatepark as well as other areas.
One local councillor said that the area had been experienced a steady rise in reports of crime and anti-social behaviour in recent years. The cameras have been fitted by Ashfield District Council and will be wired through to Nottinghamshire Police’s control room ensuring 24 hour monitoring of the popular park.
An environmental officer at the park said that as well as antisocial behaviour there had also been reports of knife crime and flashing at the park. He also showed our reporter a knife that had been recovered from the park recently.
Graham Willis, 51, who works as an environmental agent for the park, said: "It can't hurt [implementing CCTV]. Hopefully it can do something to stop the crime around here because there's a lot of it recently.
"Knife crime, flashing, antisocial behaviour - we've had the lot. There was a flashing incident last year where police were involved.
"A lot of it is kids, and younger people as well messing about, but yes if we get CCTV in, which we should have done a long time ago, it can't hurt."
Maria Jones, 55, who runs Titchfield Park Cafe, said: "I've had this cafe for three-and-a-half years now and we don't get much trouble up this way. It's usually the other end of the park where you get trouble happening.
"I've been asking for cameras to be put in for ages now because the park definitely needs them, but I wasn't even told that we'd be getting them. Nobody tells me anything.
"I think its needed particularly by the skatepark - that's where all of the trouble is."
The cameras will also capture HD images across the park after the council received complaints about all night parties leading to damage to the play equipment and smashed glass.
Chris Merryweather, 50, who sometimes walks his dog through the park, said: "I'm not sure if it needs it but it certainly can't hurt. I don't come through here too often but I can't say I feel unsafe.
"I can see why some people might, though, the skatepark is there and there are a lot of younger people that like to hang out around there. I'll tell you though just the other day I was walking through the park and someone shot by on a moped.
"They must have been going 30 miles per hour at least and it nearly hit me. That's dangerous.
CCTV cameras would hopefully be able to stop things like that."
Nottinghamshire Police has said they are pleased about the new safety measures and hope that they can put an end to antisocial behaviour; an issue they say is a "blight on our communities."
Inspector Jon Hewitt, district commanded for Ashfield, said: “When combined with proactive programme of community policing, CCTV is an extremely effective tool for both preventing and detecting crime and I am pleased that these new cameras are now in operation.
“Antisocial behaviour and recurrent crime is a blight on our communities and we are working hard with our partners to address these issues. However we cannot do this alone and need residents to tell us about what is happening in the areas where they live.
“I recently enjoyed the chance to discuss policing at a very well-attended public meeting and will continue to meet with residents and their elected representatives.
“In the meantime I would urge all residents who are concerned about criminal or antisocial behaviour in their areas to tell us about it – either by phoning 101 or by contacting us on-line.”
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